Preview — Pinocchio
by Carlo Collodi

Pinocchio

A classic tale of mischance and mischief based on the original adventures.

A naughty wooden puppet gets into trouble, disobeys his father, forgets his pomises, and skips through life looking for fun. Just like a "real boy." Until he learns that to become truly real, he must open his heart and think of others.

As is the case with many great and memorable children's tales, Pinocchio is predominated by the threat of violence and death. At one point the incorrigible puppet is actually lynched by a Fox and a Cat who are after his gold coins. The Talking Cricket (the model for Disney's Jiminy Cricket) is killed by Pinocchio, using a mallet to smash him against the wall, as early as chapter four. The Cricket's primary offense? Giving some lame moralistic advice to the anarchic puppet. (The Talking Cricket wAs is the case with many great and memorable children's tales, Pinocchio is predominated by the threat of violence and death. At one point the incorrigible puppet is actually lynched by a Fox and a Cat who are after his gold coins. The Talking Cricket (the model for Disney's Jiminy Cricket) is killed by Pinocchio, using a mallet to smash him against the wall, as early as chapter four. The Cricket's primary offense? Giving some lame moralistic advice to the anarchic puppet. (The Talking Cricket was a social conservative, apparently.) Later the magical fairy, a strange deus ex machina with blue hair and an even bluer temperament, is introduced as the ghost of a dead child. I could go on and on, but you get the picture here. If you don't behave, children, and do your schoolwork, you'll probably suffer ghastly and various permutations of misery, including but not limited to being eaten by a giant shark. The tension lies in Collodi's celebration of (in Rebecca West's hyperanalytic parlance) 'transgression' set against the book's explicit moralizing and voluble tsk-tsking and pooh-poohing. Although the anonymous narrator states outright that peril and misfortune are the consequences of bad behavior, Collodi makes Pinocchio's adventures oddly exhilarating. One wonders if the story is less proscriptive than it is a subtle lamentation of the freedoms we must surrender to become 'human.'

Collodi's world is troubling, to say the least. We are conditioned to expect the magical in storytelling—so long as there is an internal consistency. Collodi, however, doesn't bother with logic. Why does Pinocchio seem human and vulnerable in some predicaments but resilient and indomitable in others? Why are the fairy's powers arbitrary and situational? Why does Pinocchio turn into a donkey—other than in the service of a metaphor? I'll admit I'm a stickler for details, but the simplicity and surprising humor of Pinocchio distracts me from the fundamental realization that Collodi has created a world without rules that is overly indebted to coincidence and/or providence. In other words, I liked it—despite everything....more

I don’t have kids. I read this for pleasure as a 32-year-old man. And, surprisingly, I definitely enjoyed it. As I made my way through the book, though, I kept trying to picture what a kid would think. It’s very weird. VERY weird, and kind of dark too. I’m not very familiar with the Disney version of this story, but I’m sure Pinocchio doesn’t murder that singing cricket with a hammer like he does on page 13. And things like the growing of his nose when he lies are not major plot points in the boI don’t have kids. I read this for pleasure as a 32-year-old man. And, surprisingly, I definitely enjoyed it. As I made my way through the book, though, I kept trying to picture what a kid would think. It’s very weird. VERY weird, and kind of dark too. I’m not very familiar with the Disney version of this story, but I’m sure Pinocchio doesn’t murder that singing cricket with a hammer like he does on page 13. And things like the growing of his nose when he lies are not major plot points in the book at all. In fact, it only happens twice and both times it is addressed for only slightly more than a paragraph.

Basically, the story is about an insolent little marionette who - through folly, disobedience, and naivety - is subjected to a constant slew of misfortunes, each one more ridiculous and over-the-top than the last. And although the overarching moral to this tale (that being GO TO SCHOOL YOU DUMB LITTLE DONKEYS!) is rather reductive and simplistic, the story is odd enough and the imagination of the author is unruled and unbound enough that the well-worn lesson is not a hindrance.

Here’s a personal note: I love books translated from other languages into English. Sentence structure and word choice are often juxtaposed and arranged in ways that you normally don’t get to see when reading things originally written in English. Part of this is undoubtedly due to the translator as they struggle to preserve the story in its original form, and part of it is due to the fact that often there is often not an analogous term for certain words or phrases. It creates a certain patchwork of language that, for whatever reason, tickles me. Almost as if the charm lies in its sloppiness, or imperfection. I actually downloaded two different translations of this to my Kindle and read the first chapter of each before deciding on which translator’s voice I preferred.

In the end, I can’t really say if your kids will like this. All I can say is I did. And I’m kind of like a giant kid....more

Even though I had been slightly disabused of my belief that Pinnochio would be overlyI have been slowly reading a stack of children's classics to my twins (thus far to combat the poor movie adaptations that are out there), but I have been less than impressed.

Even though I had been slightly disabused of my belief that Pinnochio would be overly moralistic by The Old Trouts' brilliant stage adaptation (they're a Canadian puppet theatre company based out of Calgary), and despite the fact that Disney's Classic adaptation maintains most of the creepier elements from Collodi's classic, I approached Pinnochio with serious doubt and attitude.

I almost dared it to be good.

And shock of shocks it actually was. Yes there's a talking cricket, but his name isn't Jiminy and he doesn't sit on Pinnochio's shoulder and act as his conscience. Yes there is a thread of moralism running through the book, and yes some of the things Collodi teaches, such as his focus on one's duty to obey one's parents, run contrary to what I believe, the book actually steers clear of preachiness and simply lets a fun story unfold in a fun way with a couple of decent lessons cropping up here and there.

Playland (known as Pleasure Island in Disney parlance) is almost as creepy as Walt's uber-spooky version, particularly the slimy man who rounds up the kiddies and turns them into donkeys. Monstro is a gigantic, mile long Shark-with-no-name, rather than a massive whale. The blue haired fairy is a huge character, far more important than the talking cricket, and she can change shape into a goat at will. And if these elements weren't enough fun there are times when Pinnochio is collared and tied to a dog house to watch hens, hanged from a tree to die in the forest, nearly used as kindling, has his donkey flesh eaten away by nasty little fish, and is even thrown in prison by a Judge who happens to be a talking Ape.

E. Harden's translation seems superb and is eminently readable (although my friend Manny might no better how accurate a translation it is), and even though the book comes in at a pretty steep 200+ pages (impressive for a kids' book) it never tires its reader or his listeners. My kids wanted more every time we stopped for the night, and if Collodi leaves the kids wanting more that has to be a good thing.

Our next stop is Alice in Wonderland, but I may hunt down some more Collodi. He deserves to be read. ...more

Seriously, I never thought the real story of Pinocchio would be somewhat cruel and violent like this. I don’t think it is appropriate for children when it’s known as a classic story for children. It’s similar with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz which adapted differently for the movie. So, what’s wrong with these classic authors for children literature? Was their lives full of nightmare their imagination became dark and twisted? And why Mastro Geppetto was described as a grumpy and vicious o2,5 Stars

Seriously, I never thought the real story of Pinocchio would be somewhat cruel and violent like this. I don’t think it is appropriate for children when it’s known as a classic story for children. It’s similar with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz which adapted differently for the movie. So, what’s wrong with these classic authors for children literature? Was their lives full of nightmare their imagination became dark and twisted? And why Mastro Geppetto was described as a grumpy and vicious old man here? I thought he was compassionate especially to children because he didn’t have one. This is what hurt me the most.

While I enjoyed the plot of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the adventures of Pinocchio fell kinda confusing for me. There was a storyteller in the beginning of the story. I bet he’s Mr. Collodi himself. To me, a storyteller never really prepares the plot, so this is why this story became unreasonable, disorganized and "messy" at some point. There was no consistency. At least it has moral values spread everywhere and they are very specific. Easy to understand for children. I like the bigger picture of this classic story, but i was disappointed with how the story went. That’s all. And although I gave an unsatisfying review for this popular classic book, I still love Pinocchio as how I remember it from my childhood mind.

I normally read children's books during Christmastime. Not only to catch up with my Reading Challenge (I am behind by 10 books as of this writing), but also, most of children's books have life lessons that can be good reminders for the coming year. New Year always means new beginning, new hope. Do you remember when you were still in school and after reading a story in class, the teacher asked you what was the lessons you learned from it? So, inPinocchio's Ten Life Enriching Lessons for Grownups:

I normally read children's books during Christmastime. Not only to catch up with my Reading Challenge (I am behind by 10 books as of this writing), but also, most of children's books have life lessons that can be good reminders for the coming year. New Year always means new beginning, new hope. Do you remember when you were still in school and after reading a story in class, the teacher asked you what was the lessons you learned from it? So, in this year's series of children's books, I will try to list the ten lessons I was reminded while reading a certain book.

1) Experience is the best teacher. The best way to learn is to experience mistakes. It is costly and painful but the learning becomes unforgettable. Many companies allow, if not encourage, their employees to commit mistakes because to prepare them for higher positions later in their career. As parents, we should also always remember that we cannot forever shield our children from harm. At some point, they should experience pain to prepare them to fend for themselves not only when they become adults but more importantly, when we are gone.

2) Boys will be boys but they should still listen to their fathers. No parents mean any harm to their children. Boys are mischievous by nature and at some stage while growing up, children "challenge" the authority of their parents. As a parent, just be patient on this stage. Be firm with discipline and don't get emotions come in the way of instilling discipline. That stage, sometimes a make-or-break in good parenting, will pass but be careful.

3) Children are basically self-centered but they love their parents. Pinocchio defies his father, Geppetto but whenever he is facing a hard or difficult situation: hunger, pain, etc., he always cries out for his father and remembers the many sacrifices that his father has done for him.

4) Don't be gullible. Trusting attitude is now becoming scarce in this world because of too much deceit and treachery. However, we still need to trust if we are to develop meaning and lasting relationships with other people. But don't give everything right away. Hold back some and give in little by little until the person earns your full trust. In other words, don't be too trusting.

5) Tell the truth. Surprisingly, I only thought of this at this point. (I type whatever comes in my mind; I don't write drafts for my reviews). Prior to reading this classic book by this Italian author, Carlo Collodi, I thought that this was all about telling lies and regretting it because every time Pinocchio tells a lie, his nose grows longer. However, in this book (complete and unabridged), his nose grows longer when he is stressed and telling a lie makes him nervous and panicky. If I did not read this book, that impression from the movies would not have been corrected.

6) If you have a medical condition, have a second or even a third opinion. There is a scene in the book when Pinocchio is laying and seems dead so the three doctors, the Crow, the Olw and the Talking Cricket comes. The Crow and the Olw both said that Pinocchio is dead. The Talking Cricket, knowing Pinocchio very well, knows how to make him wake up from "death."

7) Don't give in to peer-pressure. We all want to fit in especially when we are new to a certain environment. There is nothing wrong with that. But to do something against our own set of values? Think twice. In the book, Pinocchio has resolved to himself to be a good boy and he goes back to school and studies diligently. However, the boys there want him to go to the sea and spend the day away from school to despise the teacher. Being a Marionette, Pinocchio feels left out as real kids make fun of him so he gives in thinking that he will earn the respect of the boys. Wrong move.

8) Help others. Pinocchio is gullible because deep inside he has this yearning to help others. His heart is soft to those who ask for help. I think this is the most endearing traits that I saw in him consistently in the book. Well, aside from deeply loving his "father" Geppetto and his "mother," the Fairy.

9) Orphans can have real love from their guardians too. If your parent or parents die at your very your age, that does not mean that you will be forever deprived of the love of a mother or father. The love of another person, your guardian for example, can be enough for you to feel secured and transfer that "parental" love to your own kids. Love begets love even if you have different blood types.

10) Parent's love is always unconditional. Erich Fromm's once said that the love of a mother to her child is unconditional while that of a father is conditional. He said that a father feels love towards his child only if the child does something that makes him happy or if the child perhaps looks or talks like him. In this book, Geppetto gives his only jacket and endures the cold weather so Pinocchio can buy his A-B-C book that is needed to go to school. When Pinocchio is missing, he goes all around Europe (Collodi is an Italian) to look for him. He is even caught inside the mouth of a whale in his pursuit to find his missing wooden son. I do not believe you, Mr. Fromm. I would do the same to my daughter if she gets lost in this world despite that she neither looks like me nor acts and talks like me.

Another very nice classic read. My heart went up and down while reading the adventures of this wooden boy, Pinocchio. I love him when he cries out for Geppetto especially when he is in jail. If I could only go to that jail and rescue him. Crazy reader (me). But who cares? It's Christmas! ...more

This was a challenge and a treat — reading the original story of Pinocchio in Italian! It’s been a long time since I saw the Disney movie, but it was obvious to me that Disney, er, Disney-fied the story quite a bit. The original tale is a lot darker and a lot funnier. I loved the fight with Gepetto and the woodcutter at the beginning, where they are tearing off each other’s wigs. Pinocchio is indeed a rascal, a scamp, and all the other things they call him. I think I would have throw him in theThis was a challenge and a treat — reading the original story of Pinocchio in Italian! It’s been a long time since I saw the Disney movie, but it was obvious to me that Disney, er, Disney-fied the story quite a bit. The original tale is a lot darker and a lot funnier. I loved the fight with Gepetto and the woodcutter at the beginning, where they are tearing off each other’s wigs. Pinocchio is indeed a rascal, a scamp, and all the other things they call him. I think I would have throw him in the fire a long time ago. I was also shocked to laughter when we meet Grillo-Parlante, the Talking Cricket who becomes Jiminy Cricket in the movie, and Pinocchio immediately gets tired of his advice, throws a hammer at the cricket, and smashes him flat against the wall, killing the poor insect instantly. I must say, I had the same urge when Jiminy Cricket started to sing in the movie. Talking animals, ridiculous incidents and escapes — I loved it! Would have been an easy read in English, but even in Italian it didn’t take me very long. Well worth checking out....more

It is always a dicey affair to criticise a popular book: and when it is an acknowledged classic for children, it is even more dangerous. So I agonised a lot over my impressions of Pinocchio: Is it only a matter of personal taste? Am I missing something? Should I rethink my rating based on learned opinions spanning more than a century? In the end, I decided to go with my original evaluation.

This is one of those stories you read and love in comics format or abridged versions before you come into cIt is always a dicey affair to criticise a popular book: and when it is an acknowledged classic for children, it is even more dangerous. So I agonised a lot over my impressions of Pinocchio: Is it only a matter of personal taste? Am I missing something? Should I rethink my rating based on learned opinions spanning more than a century? In the end, I decided to go with my original evaluation.

This is one of those stories you read and love in comics format or abridged versions before you come into contact with the original. What usually happens is that, those adaptations modify and trim the original tale to suit the sensibilities of the current generation. I also read Pinocchio as a comic book and loved it; however, on reading the original, I find that many of the "creepier" elements had been edited out of that version.

I do not love moral fables for children. The type of story where, for example, the disobedient little lamb is gobbled up by the big, bad wolf, crying with his last breath: "Oh! If I had only listened to my mother!" is terrifying to kids (I speak from personal experience). They are equivalent to the posters of hell which some people were fond of hanging in their drawing rooms during my childhood. In the nineteenth century, when Collodi wrote his story, one can easily understand that this must have been an accepted method of keeping children in line: by frightening them out of their wits. I do not think the modern world will look kindly on that method.

It is not that creepiness by itself is bad. Many fairy tales are frightening, with their suggestions of cannibalism, patricide, incest, torture etc. The difference between the fairy tale and the moral fable is that the fairy tale is a live entity, growing, shrinking and changing shape while travelling from mouth to mouth; the messages are subliminal, interacting with the child's subconscious. The moral fable on the other hand, is "purposeful" - there is a message ("if you do this, then this will happen!") which the author wants to drum into the child's head, usually by using fear as a tool. It is the narrative equivalent of the schoolmaster's swishing cane.

Collodi's story, taken by itself, has many wonderful elements of dark fantasy (the huge Dogfish which swallows ships whole, the snake with a tail which smokes like a chimney, the little white man who converts boys to donkeys and sells them...) and could have made a wonderful fairy tale. However, the moralising on almost every page of what happens to bad boys who do not obey their parents, do not study and tell lies takes all the fun out of it: the voice of the narrator, coming out through various parental figures, becomes sickening. (view spoiler)[What crowned the whole thing for me was the death of poor Candlewick, Pinocchio's friend, after short life of back-breaking labour as a donkey. Yuck! (hide spoiler)]. I was happy when the story ended.

I would recommend reading it to children with the morality edited out: but why bother? There are better books out there. Or let them read it as a comic book, or watch the Disney movie....more

What a lively book! and also what a strange book, in its nimble flirtations with death and grotesqueries that add many layers of deftly handled complexities to a seemingly simple tale.

Collodi was clearly conflicted about who Pinocchio actually was. The afterword informs us that the book is actually two parts that have now fused into one. What is now the first half of the book was originally a complete tale in itself, and ended with Pinocchio dying after being hung from a tree. But then due to thWhat a lively book! and also what a strange book, in its nimble flirtations with death and grotesqueries that add many layers of deftly handled complexities to a seemingly simple tale.

Collodi was clearly conflicted about who Pinocchio actually was. The afterword informs us that the book is actually two parts that have now fused into one. What is now the first half of the book was originally a complete tale in itself, and ended with Pinocchio dying after being hung from a tree. But then due to the character's popularity, Collodi was goaded by an editor to add another installment. Fortunately in tales such as these there's no problem in simply resurrecting a character in order to carry on with the story.

Pinocchio is a bundle of contradictions - at once caring and compassionate and supremely egocentric and even cruel. He can also be at once naively gullible and manipulative. At heart he's a free spirit, cluelessly tied to no moral system; but throughout the book he's periodically tormented by the knowledge that out of love and respect for his "father" he should go to school and become a responsible son.

Everyone knows he becomes a human boy in the end, and it is sweet and touching, but then does he lose his anarchic dynamism that always left him on the ecstatic knife's edge of danger and adventure?...more

Finishing this made me think about the first time I completed The Giving Tree. Maybe there isn't supposed to be a moral to the story? Certainly the "be a good boy and all these things will be added unto you" doesn't work here. Pinocchio is a little shit for 95% of the 220 pages and when he repents for 10 minutes he gets the keys to the kingdom? It's like the biblical prodigal son on a Corey Haim level of lifelong poor choices that impacts everyone around him, constantly given another round of onFinishing this made me think about the first time I completed The Giving Tree. Maybe there isn't supposed to be a moral to the story? Certainly the "be a good boy and all these things will be added unto you" doesn't work here. Pinocchio is a little shit for 95% of the 220 pages and when he repents for 10 minutes he gets the keys to the kingdom? It's like the biblical prodigal son on a Corey Haim level of lifelong poor choices that impacts everyone around him, constantly given another round of one-more-chance, blowing it in increasingly poorer or more selfish fueled decisions. How many stories did Disney have to plow through until reaching this one and deciding they could make a children's cartoon from it? Tip o' the hat, Walt.

I read this as reference material prior to the tandem read of Pinocchio in Venice with N.R., Amy and other fellow Goodreaders. Come join us! ...more

let's get this straight - pinocchio is an asshole. but in that, he's a regular adolescent trying to figure out how the world works and, more importantly, how he can navigate it. kids aren't always angels and ice cream - they're lying, cheating, selfish demons - i sometimes think there's nothing meaner than a 5th grader - but who can blame them? i think that was the appeal to me of reading this book versus watching the disney movie (which is my favorite disney movie, and i will have the argumentlet's get this straight - pinocchio is an asshole. but in that, he's a regular adolescent trying to figure out how the world works and, more importantly, how he can navigate it. kids aren't always angels and ice cream - they're lying, cheating, selfish demons - i sometimes think there's nothing meaner than a 5th grader - but who can blame them? i think that was the appeal to me of reading this book versus watching the disney movie (which is my favorite disney movie, and i will have the argument with anybody who says it totally candy-coats the "darkness" in the original). it's an honest view of kids and their troubles, both internal and external. oh, and by the by, if you read this expecting a blow by blow with the movie, you'll be horribly surprised - pinocchio is lynched, the cats lose their fingers, and "jiminy" cricket is killed (by pinocchio!) very early on in the story. take that, focus on the family!...more

Pinocchio is a classic story, and a very different one than the saccharine Disney version most Americans are familiar with. Carlo Collodi’s 1882 book lays out the story of a wooden puppet come to awkward life, who proceeds to act out on every selfish, crude and obnoxious impulse ever known to childhood. Each bad decision brings sorrow to his “father” Gepetto and his “mother” the Blue Fairy, and brings a terrifying consequence to the puppet — in the course of the book his feet are burned off, hePinocchio is a classic story, and a very different one than the saccharine Disney version most Americans are familiar with. Carlo Collodi’s 1882 book lays out the story of a wooden puppet come to awkward life, who proceeds to act out on every selfish, crude and obnoxious impulse ever known to childhood. Each bad decision brings sorrow to his “father” Gepetto and his “mother” the Blue Fairy, and brings a terrifying consequence to the puppet — in the course of the book his feet are burned off, he nearly starves, he is attacked by robbers, he is sent to prison, he’s nearly fried as a fish, and he’s transformed into a donkey to be sold for money.

With each consequence, his penitence for foolish behavior is more real. At the beginning of the book he’s the kind of child who sells his schoolbook, purchased by his father’s sacrifice of his winter coat, to go to a marionette show. By the end of the story, Pinocchio is the kind of boy who leaps into the sea, risking his life to save his father from a monstrous fish. This gradual transformation culminates in Pinocchio dreaming one night that the Blue Fairy comes to him saying,

In return for your good heart, I forgive you all your past misdeeds. Children who love their parents, and help them when they are sick and poor, are worthy of praise and love, even if they are not models of obedience and good behavior. Be good in future, and you will be happy.

He wakes in the morning to find that he has become a real boy, with the old wooden puppet limp in the corner.

This wasn’t originally a children’s story, but it is a story about childhood and the taming of childish, reckless impulses. It’s a deeply moral tale, often reiterating the importance of working hard, being responsible, and telling the truth. It may open up a discussion about what it means to be a slave to sinful impulses (Romans 6:16-18; Romans 7:21-24), and it confirms the Biblical teaching that “folly is bound up in the heart of a child” (Proverbs 22:15).

It isn’t, however, a Christian story, and it lacks the Christian quality of grace which transforms undeserving sinners. The moralism is sometimes quite heavy-handed, and penalties for disobedience are often gruesome. Pinocchio’s redemption ultimately comes, not from a power outside himself, but from his own resolve to change when he sees the consequences of his behavior for himself and others. Because of this moral self-reliance, this story may not be a good match for children who are prone to self-righteousness.

If you do decide to go with Pinocchio, please avoid the many uninteresting illustrated versions available, and check out Roberto Innocenti’s rendition. His surreal, dramatic, and often funny pictures perfectly complement Collodi’s vivid style....more

To be honest, Pinocchio is the most insufferable, ungrateful, and gullible brat I've seen so far in children's literature. Poor Geppetto has to sit at home, while the boy runs around and gives up to temptations. All the lies build up, and each time Pinocchio's nose grows longer.

Not too convinced on this one. New characters are introduced only to disappear almost immediately. Didn't understand the point of them, maybe Collodi wanted more pages since it was originally serialized? And oh boy, the aTo be honest, Pinocchio is the most insufferable, ungrateful, and gullible brat I've seen so far in children's literature. Poor Geppetto has to sit at home, while the boy runs around and gives up to temptations. All the lies build up, and each time Pinocchio's nose grows longer.

Not too convinced on this one. New characters are introduced only to disappear almost immediately. Didn't understand the point of them, maybe Collodi wanted more pages since it was originally serialized? And oh boy, the amount of ridiculous coincidences!

Anyway, the story was practically a bore. On the plus side, it was even weirder than Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and maybe a touch macabre. Or do you know a modern children's book where almost at the beginning of the story the main character's feet burn into cinders? That really is only the beginning......more

My Mum used to tell me about this story all the time when I was a kid. But I barely remembered the detail story. All I remember until now is that my Mum used to tell me "don't ever you lie or else your nose will grow longer and longer like Pinocchio's"

It's nice to read the entire story about Pinocchio and his adventures in this book. Although he was such a brat and sometimes really makes me want to slap his head because he kept doing naughty things, but this book indeed gave very good4.5 Stars

My Mum used to tell me about this story all the time when I was a kid. But I barely remembered the detail story. All I remember until now is that my Mum used to tell me "don't ever you lie or else your nose will grow longer and longer like Pinocchio's"

It's nice to read the entire story about Pinocchio and his adventures in this book. Although he was such a brat and sometimes really makes me want to slap his head because he kept doing naughty things, but this book indeed gave very good life lessons for children.

Some of my favorite quotes:"Laziness is a serious illness and one must cure it immediately; yes, even from early childhood. If not, it will kill you in the end.""In this world of ours we must be kind and courteous to others, if we want to find kindness and courtesy in our own days of trouble."

This was a quick, entertaining read. Both adults and children can enjoy this book.And you can download the kindle version for FREE on Amazon.Who doesn't like a good and free book? ;)...more

This is NOT Disney's Pinocchio. It's all violence, disaster, cut-throat assassins, hangings, imprisonment, thieves, bullies, greed, murder, more violence, and one ungrateful little puppet. Pinocchio really is a heartless scoundrel. He steals and lies and cheats, and then cries "Woe is me!" when someone steals from him, or lies to him, or cheats him. Well, you got what you deserved, puppet!

There are so many problems with this story. The plot is disjointed, the world-building is atrocious, and theThis is NOT Disney's Pinocchio. It's all violence, disaster, cut-throat assassins, hangings, imprisonment, thieves, bullies, greed, murder, more violence, and one ungrateful little puppet. Pinocchio really is a heartless scoundrel. He steals and lies and cheats, and then cries "Woe is me!" when someone steals from him, or lies to him, or cheats him. Well, you got what you deserved, puppet!

There are so many problems with this story. The plot is disjointed, the world-building is atrocious, and the magic is odd and inexplicable. The blue fairy is first a dead little girl in a house full of dead people, then she's a live little girl who takes care of Pinocchio, then she's grown into a woman within a few months, then she turns into a goat, I think. Not really sure what happened there with the goat. Then she's a woman again, I think.

There was a very confusing scene with a travelling puppet show, where the other puppets greet Pinocchio as a fellow puppet and are overjoyed to see him, and have a big party for their "brother". Are all puppets alive in this world? Why do the other puppets have strings if they are living beings with their own autonomy? If the puppet master hires them as "actors" for his show, then why would they need strings? They evidently have their own thoughts and feelings. So who is controlling the strings? Confusing. Makes no sense. Weirdness.

Another thing that made no sense was poor Jiminy Cricket. In the book he's just called the Talking Cricket. In the first few chapters, he comes on the scene to warn Pinocchio to do good and go to school and work hard to please his father. But Pinocchio is so enraged at the Cricket that he throws a hammer at him, and SQUASH! Cricket is murdered, flattened against the wall. Then in another scene the Talking Cricket appears to Pinocchio as a ghost, again warning him to change his ways, and return to his father, and go to school. Pinocchio ignores his warnings yet again, and the ghost disappears.And near the end of the book, here comes Talking Cricket, apparently alive and well, congratulating Pinocchio on finally returning to his father and reforming his character. Jiminy, how did you resurrect yourself? Are you Jesus? Did the Blue Fairy bring you back to life? Are you a reincarnation of the previous Cricket? ... WHY?!?! What the hay is this nonsense?!! Dead people won't even stay dead when you kill them. What kind of idiotic world is it where puppets and crickets can't just murder one another and stay dead?! Or at least explain to me how you are alive again.

I hated Pinocchio so much! So. Much. He's ungrateful. He's sneaky. He's a big fat liar. He's a cheat and a thief. He's selfish and lazy and greedy. If he would make these mistakes once, learn his lesson, and reform, then I would like him. But he does the SAME sins again and again, always promising to reform and do good while he's in the middle of a crisis or disaster, and then going right back to doing evil when things are going well for him again. Urgh. I was so frustrated with him. Evil little brat!

This story conceals an exceptional spíritual allegory, that is based on esoteric teachings, and contains plenty of metaphysical aspects. The 'universal' character of Pinocchio beautifully represents the fundamental human motifs of our experience as we evolve; it captures archetypal patterns and really complex themes of conscience, valour, and the search for identity, in an outstanding and yet simple narrative. Not many people are aware of the underlying meaning of this story of a wooden puppet,This story conceals an exceptional spíritual allegory, that is based on esoteric teachings, and contains plenty of metaphysical aspects. The 'universal' character of Pinocchio beautifully represents the fundamental human motifs of our experience as we evolve; it captures archetypal patterns and really complex themes of conscience, valour, and the search for identity, in an outstanding and yet simple narrative. Not many people are aware of the underlying meaning of this story of a wooden puppet, who is trying to become a good boy. This is a deeply spiritual story that is rooted from the Mystery schools of occultism.This Children's book of wisdom that teaches children to 'Not lie', finds a route and becomes a man’s quest for wisdom and spiritual enlightenment. It takes a little more work to understand the hidden gnostic meaning behind this, and going through Collodi's background and literary references, helps a lot.

Giovanni Malevolti once said:"There are two ways to read Pinocchio. The first is what I would call “profane” where the reader, most probably a child, learns about the mishaps of the wooden puppet. The second is a reading from a Masonic point of view, where heavy symbolism will complete, without replacing, the simple and linearly narration of events."

About the movie, there are many differences between the Disney movie and the original text. The movie was obviously over-simplified, and Pinocchio is an innocent and jolly character, instead of a little more grim depiction (of a stubborn and ungrateful misfit) from the book. Disney has an old habit of turning originally dark, grim, and twisted children’s fables into sickeningly sweet happily ever afters. I mean like as some people say for the Sleeping Beauty , that it is based on a story where a married king finds a girl asleep, and can’t wake her, so rapes her instead. Heard this one? Me neither.

Anyways, I strongly recommend going with this particular version (ISBN: 0520246861), as it has the complete text in both Italian and English, with the original Black & White illustrations by Enrico Mazzanti.

A famous literary critic once said:“Pinocchio is the testing ground for foreigners; whoever understands the beauty of Pinocchio, understands Italy.”—...more

Unsurprisingly this is darker and even more surreal than the cultural touchstone left in Walt's Studio's wake. Interestingly, reading this years after having been typically mesmerized by the animated version several times as a wee knee-high made me re-realize how truly dark and strange and moving the relatively far more sugar-coated technicolor Disney fare actually was. But again, this original monograph ratchets up the creepiness and, frankly, the hard-nosed bleakness quite a bit more, by compaUnsurprisingly this is darker and even more surreal than the cultural touchstone left in Walt's Studio's wake. Interestingly, reading this years after having been typically mesmerized by the animated version several times as a wee knee-high made me re-realize how truly dark and strange and moving the relatively far more sugar-coated technicolor Disney fare actually was. But again, this original monograph ratchets up the creepiness and, frankly, the hard-nosed bleakness quite a bit more, by comparison. Definitely worth checking out, fans of the animated version or not (does anyone actually dislike the classic film anyway?)....more

What a dick! Wavering around like a conker in the breeze, pinocchio dances about and invites at least a harsh look. But he gets more than that! Hung from the neck til dead! pushed into a coffin paraded by freakish rabbits! Have his legs plucked off! Pasted with flour! Chained up like a dog! eaten by a shark! Turned into a donkey and drowned! Starve to death! Get burnt up - more than once! - all this and more! Horrible!

Carlo Lorenzini, better known by the pen name Carlo Collodi (November 24, 1826 – October 26, 1890), was an Italian children's writer known for the world-renowned fairy tale novel, The Adventures of Pinocchio.